“Prostate” and “Probate” are two words you do not want to get confused. If you are going in for a Probate Check, nobody needs a rubber glove. Probate is the way the court verifies a will, makes sure certain debts are paid, and oversees the distribution of a decedent’s property. Probate ensures that the court does not take shortcuts in asset distribution. My theory on probate is, get in, take care of it, get out. Probate is not a dirty word and it does not have to be expensive. Probate can take time, though. In some cases, depending on the size of the estate, tax implications, and desires of the testator, probate-avoidance methods, including trusts and pre-death distributions, are appropriate. However, I am not a fan of a rubber chicken dinner served to you in a hotel ballroom where they scare you into getting a trust. Not everybody needs a trust and not everybody needs a will. Seek competent legal counsel to discuss your circumstances to make a plan that best suits your intentions.
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